On Friday, there will be a unique addition to the street-scape in downtown Camas.
An old-fashioned upright piano, painted by artist Natalie Andrzejeski, will be placed outside the Camas Gallery, where it will stay until Aug. 16.
Titled “Purple Daze,” for its depiction of bright purple lavender fields accented by snow covered mountains, rolling green hills and an old barn with a deep red roof, the instrument is part of the fourth annual Keys to the City program.
It is one of four that Andrzejeski, of Sequim, Washington, painted for the School of Piano Technology for the Blind fundraiser, which places artful pianos throughout Clark County for all to play during a celebration of music and art.
Keys to the City pianos are first tuned by the students of the school, which was started in 1949 and provides important career skills to the blind.
This will be the first appearance in Camas for one of the Keys to the City pianos. “Purple Daze” will be unveiled at the Aug. 7 First Friday celebration, from 5 to 8 p.m.
To make sure there is music during the early evening hours, time slots are available to reserve between 5 and 9 p.m.
Currently scheduled to play on Friday are Brad Jensen at 5:30 and Rod London at 7.
The piano will then be available for playing by the public between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. Piano players of all ages are being recruited to play for 20 to 30 minute sessions during this 10-day period. To reserve a time, contact Barb Baldus, board secretary of the Downtown Camas Association, the organization sponsoring the piano. She can be reached at 834-4532 or bjandron@comcast.net.
Pianists currently scheduled to play are Rich Kutch at 5:30 p.m., followed by Fan Liu at 6:30 on Saturday, Liu at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Sarah Lightfoot and her piano students from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 11; and Dianna Kretzschmar at noon and Therese Michaud at 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14.
Thirteen other pianos that are part of the fundraiser will be placed throughout Clark County at sites including the Clark County Fair, 17402 N.E. Delfel Road, in Ridgefield; Mill Creek Pub, 1710 S.W. Ninth Ave., Ste. 101, in Battle Ground; Esther Short Park by the water feature, 415 W. Sixth St., in Vancouver; the Vancouver waterfront near Beaches Restaurant, 1919 S.E. Columbia River Drive, and McMenamins, 1801 S.E. Columbia River Drive; the Vancouver Community Library, 901 “C” St.; and New Season’s Market, 2100 S.E. 164th Ave., in Fisher’s Landing.
For more information, visit http://pianotuningschool.org/keys-to-the-city.
